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• Why Alternatives
• Our Team
• Charity Work
• Marketer of the Year

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Charity Work

Giving Something Back

Hope Foundation

Back in 2000 when we were looking for a cause to support, as lovers of great ideas and action, we were really taken with the HOPE Foundation, which works to get thousands of children in Calcutta off the streets and, critically, to a place of safety.

Our involvement started with us giving the charity some free marketing advice. This then led us to sponsor a number of the HOPE children and to run the Mini Marathon in June every year. The latter has become a fun day out for both the Alternatives team PLUS several of our great interim managers, candidates and clients who generously run for the HOPE Foundation cause. (We will definitely be doing it all again next year so let us know if you would like to join us on the day!)

Marketing for Change

In 2008, we launched Alternatives Marketing for Change programme.  For the first time ever in Ireland, charities can have top-level marketing expertise at their disposal for no cost. 

We got the idea for Marketing for Change in Haiti in 2007. We were there as part of a follow-up to our selection as finalists in the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards.  We had just been shown by Prof. Kellie McElhaney, Berkeley University, USA how other companies were using Corporate social responsibility to make a sustainable difference. This expert had given us lots of advice, but one piece in particular struck home – “Do something meaningful that fits your strategic competence”.

Instead of simply writing a cheque for a worthy cause, our programme is about investing our company’s skills and resources directly.  We facilitate marketers in Ireland to donate their time and expertise to charities that really benefit from their input.

With a slogan of “Give Time, Give Talent”, marketers are asked to volunteer their skills and marketing experience to charities for an agreed period of time – to work on specific marketing projects that help make a positive difference to the charities. These projects include sharpening the charities marketing to the public and businesses, developing clear strategies and communications plans, informing advertising and PR and developing strong online marketing plans.

The charities, gain access to experienced marketers free of charge and the volunteers find it an easy and flexible way to provide high-impact marketing contributions. We’ll continue to promote and support Marketing for Change as long as the need exists – because we know that Marketing can make a change - for good.

The Charity’s Perspective

Temple Street Hospital registered with the Marketing for Change programme in pursuit of a highly skilled consultant to advise on communications strategies:  “This programme has delivered just that. We were really impressed at the calibre of volunteers we met with and the ease of the process to date. The Marketing for Change project is a wonderful resource for not-for-profit organisations and offers a fresh approach to volunteering for professionals”. Michelle McGoldrick, Senior Fundraising & Co-ordinator

A marketer worked with a leading charity and had this to say about their experience:
“My experience with the charity was very enjoyable and rewarding. I decided to get involved as I found I had time on my hands while I was looking for my next role. I did give a little more time to it than I had intended but I was very happy to do this because we worked so well as a team. I would definitely recommend the Marketing for Change project to anyone who can avail of it. Apart from being really rewarding the experience, it gave me an opportunity to contribute and feel part of a team."

Click here to read more and see how you can be involved.